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(No Model.)

W. G. SLATER.

SHOE UPPER. No. 297,185. Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

lfcslaian W W z N. PETERS. Pam-Litho ra her. Washinglon, n. C.

UNrrEn STATES Parent Orrrcn.

WARREN G. SLATER, OF FREMONT, MICH., ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO JAMES It. ODELL, SAM ODELL, AND S. P. BARNHARD, ALL OF SAME PLACE.

SHOE-UPPER.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,185, dated April 22, 1884.

Application filed February 15, 1884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN G. SLATER. a citizen of the United States, residing at Fremont, in the county of Newaygo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Uppers and Fastenings, of which the following is a specification. reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. IO This invention has relation to improvements in shoe uppers and fastenings; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the same, whereby said upper is made adjustable as well as the fastening device, thereby rendering the shoe capable of being adjusted to different-sized feet, at the same time preventing the necessity of removing the buttons, for replacement, and by such novel construction the shoe can be so arranged or adjusted that the same will be easy and comfortable to the feet of the wearer and the invention consists in the combination of the various parts of which it is composed, all as will be hereinafter more fully explained, and particulary pointed out in the claims appended. The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrate my invention, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the upper; Fig. 2, also a side view of the opposite side of the upper to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken on line a; :r, Fig. 1.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the shoe-upper,which 3 5 consists of three portions, a, b, and c. The heel portion a and the front portion, b, are stitched, as at d, in the ordinary manner, and the instep lapped portion 0 is stitched only to the upper at its lower end, as at e, thus leaving the sides unstitehed, as shown in the drawings.

On one side of the upper and within the same, and between the latter and the inner lining, f, are secured the ends 9 of a series of straps, h, which are arranged equal distances apart, which latter pass through slits a, cut in the instep portion a, which also pass within the latter portion, and between the same and the lining of said portion. These straps hare provided at their free ends with hooks 7a, which 5o engage perforations Z, made in the fastening- (No model.)

strap m,whieh latter is provided with tongues a, that pass through slits 0 in the instep portion, and opposite to the slits z aforesaid. These tongues project through the slits to the outside of the shoe, and are "provided with button-holesp,to engage the buttons q, secured to the upper, as shown in the drawings.

It will be observed from the above description, and by reference to the annexed drawings, that the shoe-upper can be readily adjusted, either at the ankle orinstep, or, in fact, from the stitched lower portion to the top thereof. This adj ustmentis accomplished simply by the wearer unhooking the straps and placing the hooks in the other perforationsin the tongue portion, and when properly adjusted to the wearers feet said hooks may be firmly clinched thereto, and by said adjustment the buttons need not be removed, as is common with shoes now made, but can be'se- 7O cured permanently to the shoe, thus making an easy and perfect fitting shoe without removing or setting forward or backward the buttons, and in adjusting the upperit will not twist or change the seam, as the adjustment is from both sides of the shoe, thus keeping the seam directly in front of the shoe, and should one of the bl1i1i301l-11018$ tear out that tongue can be readily replaced by cutting it off and stitching another in its place, and the front 3 seam is prevented from ripping, as there is no strain on the same, and a shoe-upper constructed as herein shown and described is comfortable to the wearers feet, neat in appearance,easily and quickly adj usted,(lurable, s and at the same time cheap to manufacture.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The shoe-upper provided with the instep 0 or front piece, a, stitched at its lower end only to said. upper, and having the slits t to receive the straps h, and the slits 0 to receive the tongues 12, said tongues adjustably attached to the straps, and the latter secured at the opposite ends to the shoe-upper, substantially as described.

2. The shoe-upper having secured thereto one end of the straps h, the latter adapted to pass through the slits in the front portion, c,

and adjustably connected to the tongue-strap whole operating as and for the purpose set m, the tongues passing through the slits 0, and forth. having the button-holes p to connect with the In testimony whereof I affix my signature in buttons g on the shoe, substantially as depresence of two witnesses. scribed and for the purpose specified. \VARREN G. SLATER.

3. The shoe-upper capable of adjustment, X'Vitnesses:

substantially as described, consisting of the JOHN A. BOYD, portions a b c, straps h, and tongues n, the O. LIM. 

